That's not an all-clear on the roads, though. Temperatures will drop below freezing around midnight tonight, which could lead to isolated slick spots and black ice before the melting resumes with temperatures back above freezing about 9 a.m. Friday.

The heavy snow that began late Wednesday night -- about 18 hours after first expected -- perhaps came at the least inconvenient time.

HEMSI Director Don Webster said the ambulance service did not see a spike in calls when the snow hit. From 6 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday, HEMSI responded to 26 motor vehicle accidents and nine falls outside in winter weather.

None of the injuries were life-threatening, he said.

"We did not see a substantial increase in volume as far as average numbers (of calls)," Webster said. "We attribute that to people doing what they were supposed to do -- staying off the roads, staying inside."

Webster also said Madison County roads were looking good with the exception of shaded areas that haven't completely melted.

Roadways were largely empty of traffic, Marshall County EMA Director Anita McBurnett said, which meant there were no traffic injuries in the county from the snow. There were six injuries in Tuesday's snow, she said.

"The sun has really helped and the road crews have done a great job cleaning off the roads," McBurnett said in reporting all major roads in Marshall County clear.

North Alabama appeared to endure the heavy snow with nominal impact. Power outages were scattered and roads were at their worst during the overnight hours.

Given the amount of snow the area received, it was fortunate timing. The city of Cullman had 10 inches of snow while Eva in rural Morgan County reported 9 inches of snow. In Madison County, 6.5 inches was reported in Huntsville near the Tennessee River while 6 inches were reported at Owens Cross Roads.

Guntersville reported 8 inches of snow and Athens 5.2 inches while snow was sparse in the northwest corner with 1.5 inches in Killen and 1 inch in Muscle Shoals.

As the snow melted, north Alabama awoke from its slumber Thursday - perhaps best evidenced by the routine bottleneck of traffic getting into Redstone Arsenal at lunchtime for a 1 p.m. re-opening.

It's supposed to rain Friday afternoon but that's about the worst thing Darden could say about the weather.

"We could certainly get one or two other winter events but in the near term," he said, "but it looks like we're done and we'll be into a warm pattern."